Minnie and Moo, those marvelous big-nostrilled cows, continue their side-splitting trip through the holidays (Minnie and Moo: The Night Before Christmas, p. 1617, etc.). It’s Valentine’s Day and Moo is writing poems. Her first creation, “Ode to the Cream Puff,” brings tears to Minnie’s eyes, because “poems about food always make me weep.” When the bovine heroines see their fellow animals fighting, they decide that everyone needs some of their love poems. They dress up in fetching tutus and wings, grab their bows and rubber arrows, and proceed to send their “love poems” to their farm friends. The poems, which range from very funny to downright wipe-your-eyes hilarious, will tickle even the most resistant funny bone. Imagine young faces when they hear or read “keener” rhymed with “wiener.” Then the poems get mixed up; the turkey poem, “Dear Turkey Legs,” is sent to the farmer’s wife, the goat poem is sent to the farmer, and love threatens to be thwarted. Cazet’s comical over-the-top watercolors elevate this joyful, rollicking story of love and friendship and offer wonderful facial expressions to punctuate the humor. The farmer’s wife takes her shot: “Cows don’t write poems,” she tells her husband. Young readers will know better, especially if they have read Click, Clack, Moo. Keep ’em moooving, Minnie and Moo. (Easy reader. 4-8)
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-06-623754-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2002
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
Sloat collaborates with Huffman, a Yu’pik storyteller, to infuse a traditional “origins” tale with the joy of creating. Hearing the old women of her village grumble that they have only tasteless crowberries for the fall feast’s akutaq—described as “Eskimo ice cream,” though the recipe at the end includes mixing in shredded fish and lard—young Anana carefully fashions three dolls, then sings and dances them to life. Away they bound, to cover the hills with cranberries, blueberries, and salmonberries. Sloat dresses her smiling figures in mixes of furs and brightly patterned garb, and sends them tumbling exuberantly through grassy tundra scenes as wildlife large and small gathers to look on. Despite obtrusively inserted pronunciations for Yu’pik words in the text, young readers will be captivated by the action, and by Anana’s infectious delight. (Picture book/folktale. 6-8)
Pub Date: June 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-88240-575-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
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